Convention and Visitors Bureau to Develop New Strategic Plan

Galesburg, IL (April 28, 2017) – Earlier this year, Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessica Linder unveiled plans for tourism at the Galesburg Chamber’s Annual Dinner. Their plan of work included strategic planning along with other highlights, such as a new website, community calendar and update of the Welcome Center of East Main Street. Earlier this month, the Galesburg Chamber Board moved forward on promises to develop such a plan by approving the hire of McDaniels Marketing, a marketing and strategy firm based in Pekin, IL. The firm has been selected to carry out strategic planning and brand development for the Galesburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (GACVB) over the next six to nine months. 

McDaniels Marketing will provide high-level research and analysis that leads to brand development including a new logo, slogan and look for the CVB. Work will begin with the firm next week. “McDaniels Marketing is an industry leader in tourism research and destination development, and we are very excited to be working with them,” said Linder.

Their three-phase process will be completed in late Fall of this year and will be led by a steering committee of local stakeholders and tourism industry leaders. The first phase will take the CVB through extensive research which will include visitor intercept studies, where visitors are interviewed and asked to provide data on their trip, travel habits and information on their impression and experience of Galesburg. The research phase will also include interviews with stakeholders and an in-depth market data analysis. 

“McDaniels will offer consultation and planning that will allow us to improve the attractiveness of our destination by assisting us in telling a captivating story both online and offline,” Linder continued. “As a part of that, planning and executing an effective digital marketing campaign blended with the right mix of print and other media will position the CVB to be more competitive in destination marketing.”

Galesburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (GACVB) is an Illinois State Certified Convention and Visitors Bureau that markets Galesburg & Knox County as a destination for visitors. GACVB is a division of the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce. GACVB is funded through hotel/motel tax revenue from the City of Galesburg and through a Local Convention and Visitors Bureau grant from the Illinois Office of Tourism through the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity.